Concerns are being raised regarding the welfare of German student exchange participants in the United States. Green Party Bundestag member Julian Joswig has formally questioned the federal government regarding measures taken to support participants in the Parliamentary Partnership Program (PPP), following reports of increasingly stringent U.S. entry procedures. The PPP, a youth exchange initiative, is jointly sponsored by the German Bundestag and the U.S. Congress.
The Foreign Office has responded stating that entry requirements for German citizens have not changed and that individuals experiencing difficulties can seek assistance from German representations within the United States. However, this response has proven insufficient for Mr. Joswig. He characterizes the current governmental approach as problematic, arguing in a letter to Bundestag President Julia Klöckner – who also serves as patron of the PPP – that the government has not sufficiently addressed recent developments. He specifically cites tightened border controls, the political climate following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and the increased use of digital surveillance as areas requiring greater attention. He believes a more proactive engagement with these evolving conditions is necessary to adequately support program participants.
